As U.S. and European negotiators meet in Brussels today to launch the eighth round of Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) negotiations, ITI encourages them to reach concrete progress on provisions to support the continued growth of the digital economy. By building upon previous commitments that promote the growth of key aspects of the digital economy, including ensuring that the [...]

President Obama has just wrapped up his state visit to India as the chief guest for Republic Day and there is renewed optimism about the relationship between the world’s two largest democracies. This is good news for the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Just a few short months ago, Prime Minister Modi met with President Obama in Washington to rekindle a relationship that had [...]

I saw an article recently that declared that the “IANA transition” has “reached the halfway point.” By now, of course, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) has become comfortably ensconced within the global Internet lexicon, whether pronounced on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, in the hallways of Istanbul, or the airport hangar-sized convention halls of Busan, Korea. If this [...]

DATELINE GENEVA – Under cold leaden skies in this city that is home to the World Trade Organization (WTO), negotiations did not wrap up today with a final deal to expand the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), an agreement that would grow the global economy, foster innovation, and reduce consumer prices on innovative technologies the world over. The news comes as a significant disappointment to [...]

After more than two years of negotiations, the effort to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) is now on the verge of a successful conclusion. Negotiators from the participating economies converge on Geneva on Thursday, Dec. 4, to begin what we hope will be a final round of talks at the World Trade Organization. Following a major breakthrough on the sidelines of last [...]

In a little over a week, we will gather together with loved ones for a uniquely American holiday to give thanks across the country. Of the many things we are grateful for, trade may not be the first to come to mind, but with one out of every five U.S. jobs depending on trade, we actually should be thankful for it. Over the past few decades trade has become a maligned issue. But the old talking points [...]

DATELINE BEIJING – At a press briefing this morning, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman announced a much-anticipated breakthrough in the negotiations to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA). Coming on the margins of this year’s summit convened by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders, this bilateral agreement between the United States and China [...]

DATELINE BEIJING – The deadlock to expand product coverage of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) continues following conclusion today of the meeting of ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies. The joint declaration that emerged from the gathering was certainly supportive of ITA expansion, which suggests some progress. But the behind-the-scenes negotiations to get [...]

DATELINE BEIJING – Following the closing of polluting industries around Beijing and strict traffic limitations, the promise of clear skies in this chronically smoggy capital runs high in the lead up to the November 10-11 summit of the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies. In addition to possible progress on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the question looming largest for [...]

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival on the political scene in India and now his arrival in our nation’s capital this week, the winds of change may be blowing in ways that point to a new beginning. Coming into office on the heels of an historic landslide electoral victory in May, Mr. Modi’s promise of change is long overdue. Mr. Modi, himself, may be the first Indian prime minister who really [...]